Manchester University Press
10 ‘Chinese rings’
Abstract
This chapter examines the inter-relationship of sport and diplomacy with specific reference to the 1960 Winter Olympic Games (held in Squaw Valley, California). More specifically, it evaluates State Department involvement in the ongoing issue of the recognition of the ‘two Chinas’ during the Cold War, with specific reference to international sport. Despite long-standing official non-involvement in international sporting matters, hosting the 1960 Games focused US diplomatic attention on the opportunities and problems presented by the Olympics within the wider Cold War. Crucially, the State Department extended considerable behind-the-scenes efforts both before and during the Squaw Valley Games in an attempt to ensure Nationalist Chinese participation. Overall, this chapter demonstrates that, despite claims of non-involvement, the State Department specifically utilised international sport – and particularly the Olympics – as a tool of diplomacy during the Cold War. This was drawn into particularly sharp focus when the Games were being hosted on American soil, as they were in Squaw Valley in 1960.
Abstract
This chapter examines the inter-relationship of sport and diplomacy with specific reference to the 1960 Winter Olympic Games (held in Squaw Valley, California). More specifically, it evaluates State Department involvement in the ongoing issue of the recognition of the ‘two Chinas’ during the Cold War, with specific reference to international sport. Despite long-standing official non-involvement in international sporting matters, hosting the 1960 Games focused US diplomatic attention on the opportunities and problems presented by the Olympics within the wider Cold War. Crucially, the State Department extended considerable behind-the-scenes efforts both before and during the Squaw Valley Games in an attempt to ensure Nationalist Chinese participation. Overall, this chapter demonstrates that, despite claims of non-involvement, the State Department specifically utilised international sport – and particularly the Olympics – as a tool of diplomacy during the Cold War. This was drawn into particularly sharp focus when the Games were being hosted on American soil, as they were in Squaw Valley in 1960.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of figures ix
- List of tables x
- List of contributors xi
- Acknowledgements xv
- Introduction 1
-
Part I: Concepts and history
- 1 The governance of sport in deeply divided societies 13
- 2 Can sport contribute to the mission success of military peace support operations? 34
- 3 Diplomatic actors in the world of football 47
- 4 Mega sports events as political tools 70
-
Part II: Public diplomacy
- 5 Contesting independence 89
- 6 Friendship is solidarity 110
- 7 Barnstorming Frenchmen 130
- 8 Football, diplomacy and Australia in the Asian century 147
-
Part III: ‘No sport’ as diplomacy
- 9 Boycotts and diplomacy 169
- 10 ‘Chinese rings’ 185
- 11 Decentring US sports diplomacy 203
- 12 ‘They used Americana, all painted and polished, to make the enormous impression they did’ 223
- Post-match recovery and analysis 243
- Index 263
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of figures ix
- List of tables x
- List of contributors xi
- Acknowledgements xv
- Introduction 1
-
Part I: Concepts and history
- 1 The governance of sport in deeply divided societies 13
- 2 Can sport contribute to the mission success of military peace support operations? 34
- 3 Diplomatic actors in the world of football 47
- 4 Mega sports events as political tools 70
-
Part II: Public diplomacy
- 5 Contesting independence 89
- 6 Friendship is solidarity 110
- 7 Barnstorming Frenchmen 130
- 8 Football, diplomacy and Australia in the Asian century 147
-
Part III: ‘No sport’ as diplomacy
- 9 Boycotts and diplomacy 169
- 10 ‘Chinese rings’ 185
- 11 Decentring US sports diplomacy 203
- 12 ‘They used Americana, all painted and polished, to make the enormous impression they did’ 223
- Post-match recovery and analysis 243
- Index 263
